Something nice: American fashion designer Alexander Wang seems like a really cool intersectional dude. I enjoy the fact that Wang gave an interview to People on behalf of his new collaboration with Trojan condoms, a collab called Protect Your Wang. Seriously. He’s doing it for Pride Month, specifically for New York’s upcoming Pride Parade. That’s really cool. Not so cool? In the same interview, he praises Bella Hadid – one of his muses/models – as the “body of our generation.” Michael Bluth voice: “Her?”
Wang on the future of athleisure: “The new urban uniform continues to evolve based on what women and men want to wear every day. I react to my friends and the way they dress, from an unexpected combination of a corset layered over a t-shirt to wearing sweatpants with a tuxedo jacket. I think the modern way to dress is all about the mix.” But at the end of the day, he adds, “The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to trust my first instinct. Success can create a certain sense of comfort, but it’s important to be dynamic and to keep pushing new boundaries.”
Creating Bella Hadid’s Met Gala catsuit: While Bella may have said prior to the Victoria’s Secret show that she, “really didn’t mean to [lose weight]. Like I want boobs. I want my ass back,” Wang insists that the 20-year-old, “really is ‘the body’ of our generation.”
First, on athleisure… I love how Alexander Wang and other designers are acting like they INVENTED people wearing sweatpants and track pants as regular, everyday clothing. Like, go to any college campus for the past thirty years, bro. Go to any airport! Everybody wears athleisure and it’s not something a designer recently invented or promoted.
As for Bella being the body of our generation… she’s just a slender white woman…?? Like, she’s really slim, very few curves, slim-hipped and boyish. The body of our generation is basically the body of every generation, according to designers: the slim white woman. THE LOOK OF OUR TIME.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Nope
She’s not even that great looking IMO.
No women seem to like her. Personally as a guy….I think she’s beyond (and so do all my buddies). I think Gigi is a predictable borrrrring snore of a frat boy’s wet dream…and this girl conversely, is everything. The sophisticated (and less obvious) choice for those with sexy, mature taste. Sorry, but its yet another instance where men and women hold differing beauty ideals. I think she deserves the limelight in the sea of banal, beige Insta models. I know, I know….you’ll never “get it”. “What am i seeing that you dont see”…..and so continues the chasm of sexual ‘taste’ between the genders. Never the twain shall meet (sigh). She’s beyond hot to me
Keef
I wonder if you find her so gorgeous because you’re relating her to females you know. Or let me phrase it differently. You see physical traits in her that you associate with positive and attractive personality traits in others. It’s extremely common to do this.
Short of that here it’s not that we don’t “get it.” Just not making an association you are. Studies vary, but they show we perceive people 10%-20% on average more or less attractive when we factor in their personality.
So, all that said… her look is basic. Maybe uncommon and unique facial features for most Insta models and main stream. But, her body and what we are discussing… basic. There’s nothing that sets her apart in that sea.
I’m a chick a I love her. I love Gigi and Bella
as models.
She has a certain sexiness , but my girl crush is forever Angelina Jolie.
Sexy mature taste = skinny young white chick, but with brown hair!
You are welcome to your tastes of course, but for sexy, mature, and different, I typically look at women like Jessica Chastain, Danai Gurira, and Gillian Anderson.
I’m a woman and I think she is uniquely beautiful. I think she;s stunning, love her features. I’m not so in to her body being the body of this generation, there are way too many body types to just pin it to one.
I agree. The most striking thing I find about the Hadid girls is they lack muscle definition (e.g. calf muscles). Elle Macpherson (the original ‘body’) looked much fitter by comparison. Don’t agree with calling her ‘the body of a generation’, she’s just skinny
*eye roll*
But it’s not because the curvy, big bum, Kim K/JLo body has been more popular…or am I wrong on this? The slim jim is the go to for designers and always will be but curvier bodies have definitely made a “comeback” lately.
yeah, designers like bodies like hers because it’s essentially a “hanger”. no curves to twist or otherwise mess up the lines of the clothes, which is what they want to show off.
(I had a friend who worked in fashion design for YEARS and this was confirmed by her. they don’t have to be ULTRA skinny bordering on anorexic, but long limbs with no curves are preferable.)
I signed at 15 and did the catwalk for Fendi, Versace and Prada and my agency was always scrutinizing us. This was over a decade ago but I’ll never forget the day I walked away. My contract with my agency was expiring in 1 month and I went in for the typical weigh in and measure and my hips were 33 inches, my agent point blank told me in order to sign a new contract I’d have to drop at least 3 inches off my hips, the largest hips they would accept was 30 inches. I walked out then and there and never looked back. Took the money I made got myself a degree, MBA and PhD and work as a CEO of a multi-million dollar company now.
way to go, Lucy.
That’s amazing, Lucy! The fashion part sounds fun, but the “got degrees, became CEO of $MM company” is the most bad ass thing. I am crushing on you like you’re Wonder Woman.
@Lucy – I’m in awe of your decade-ago self for leaving and being such a boss about it (literally)
And stories like yours are also why I always eyeroll when nepotism models talk about how they refuse to take jobs that make them lose weight – firstly, it’s a lie and secondly, as your story illustrates, keeping that shape is not an option that’s even given to most models who don’t have rich/connected parents.
@LUCY, YOU ROCK !
Ummm, Celebitchy should hire you for guest posts stat Lucy!
Would love to see your thoughts on other fashion posts on this site too!
Goooooo Lucy!!
I’d even understand if he said it was Gigi, because she looked amazing when she had more curves and can WORK a dress even now (look at what she was wearing to the Met and try to imagine any of the other instamodels pulling that thing off).
But Bella? Really? Please.
Bella would not even be in modeling if she had not had all the plastic surgery she has had. I always have mixed feelings about how she looks. I understand models must always be thin, but the model of this generation must also be 5 feet 11 inches? How does that make the rest of us feel?
I dunno, could it make ”the rest of us’ feel kinda like the girls that are told they are way too tall?
A lot of models have had plastic surgery, we just weren’t as aware of how they looked before. Even the old school models. Stéphanie Seymour had implants, Tyra had
A nose job, many of the girls have had their lips, boobs and noses done – if not more. Actresses are just as bad. Let’s not pretend that Bella is the only model that’s ever had a nose job!
Skf
But she didn’t need a nose job and it made her look worse imo. Her original was fine. This does not flatter her features.
Designers may love bodies like Bella’s, but let’s face it, curves are what define this generation. Just look at women like JLo, Serena, and Kate Upton. They are the women I want to look like.
What curves does K. Upton have? She has implants and… that’s it/ Her waist to hip ratio is not that great, in fact I’m pretty sure Bella is more curvy in that regard.
Kate Upton doesn’t have curves. She has fake breasts on a straight up and down frame.
The body I want is Linda Hamilton in Terminator II. Damn what a body. Tipping her cot upright so she could do one-armed pull ups? Muscles worth drooling over.
Even Mattel comes out with Barbie and Ken with different body types, but sure Bella is the body of our time. Because we still need to glorify one body type only.
I read this as an insult to her face. Like, she’s only got the body. She’s not the ‘look’ or ‘model’ of our generation, just the body.
Kinda but maybe came out that way unintentionally? Like he’s certainly not trying to shade her.
I don’t think so. I don’t know who it is but not her
Thanks to her great doctor
WHAT??? No. Just no.
Ha!! Sure Jan
I actually like Bella and I don’t understand all the hate she gets. I definitely don’t think her body is “boyish” just because she’s not an extreme hourglass. That being said, I do think she’s an odd pick because she’s so young… there’s nothing unique about her figure at this point. If I had to characterize it in any way, I would just call it “youthful.”
Not true, unless he means *our* generation, as in – his and mine, which has now been surpassed by the next, current, curvier and shorter generation. Slim and tall was late nineties
Her body is fantastic. Short and “curvy” like Kim K tries so hard to be the “in” body type these days, and I know all bodies can be attractive but I’d much rather see a body like Bella’s. If Kim K tried to wear the same clothes, she would look like a stuffed sausage, but Bella and the other runways look sleek, slender and appealing.
Male opinion here: her body is nice! I don’t understand all the negative comments for this girl. She’s got a unique style and a beautiful look about her.
I think her body is lovely too. I don’t know why we have to pick her a part, even if a person might disagree about his comments regarding her being the standard for a generation. There’s no need to tear her down.
It’s sad to read these comments given that I’m minimally curvaceous. Basically bodies like hers and mine are “hangers.”
Cool. Tell us how you really feel about other women’s natural bodies.
I think she has a very nice body–she had a bad nose job, though, and that’s all I see when I look at her. That and her blank look.
This.
Yep, I think she’s got a great body! And so much love for Alexander Wang as well – love his eye for fashion.
Me too. She appears more interesting than gigi. Lovely smile. Great bod.
Welle Elle Mc Pherson was named “the Body” and to me she just was another tall leggy fitted woman. So Why not.
That was my first thought exactly! Plus, we are talking about high fashion here not street fashion.
This. I don’t think he meant that she’s literally the body of our generation, but that she’s “the body” of our generation. He’s referencing Elle and drawing a comparison between the two. The words – the body – are even in quotes within the quote to signify this.
Co-sign (to the No). She is ONE body of our generation. Period. That being said, I do enjoy AW’s work in general, and he seems like a nice guy.
Ah I KNEW there was something missing from my life! And now I have it back: A body from a model that I should aspire to look like. Thanks, Wang!
Bella’s nose job just irks me.
slim-hipped and boyish?? have you seen her in a bikini!?
I just did. Before weight loss… bam! After… she lost the curves.
Exactly! Even after weight loss her hips are way bigger than the average runway model’s . I actually think she has a very unique body bc I can’t think of any other model with her shape? I’m kinda sad and surprized at all the body bashing that’s going on here.
Not really. Most models have a similar body and hers is not extra special. I find all sorts of shapes lovely so exalting one type over so many others is not my thing at all. My grandmother in her day had a body like Sophia Loren and WOW the photos are incredible and much more appealing than another 20-year-old skinny model. A great body is one that fits the person, is healthy and gets some exercise and hasn’t been mutilated with endless plastic surgery. These declarations are silly.
she’s curvy but tight. Over all I think many of us would be happy to look like her, though I find gigi a lot prettier
That’s a big NO from me. I enjoy her as a model but her body is just her body – it isn’t the gold standard of bodies. He could have phrased his enjoyment of her as a model and her model attributes differently.
Phleaze. NO !!
Why are models the owners of the best-bodies in the world? They are all supposed to fit certain measurements and proportions. The rest, plastic surgeons take care of. They are not representatives of women’s body diversity. They do not have the best bodies, not even visually. Protruding hip bones do.not.look.beautiful.
It is a lovely body, just like any other model’s.
So he’s trying to call her the new Elle MacPherson – who was “The Body” for many years – or the new “The Legs” which was Stephanie Seymour.
Nope.
Especially with her being so dead eyed and wholly uninspiring. I don’t think she’s unattractive but she’s very bland to me.
Hell no
I’m laughing at Michael Bluth: Her? I totally remember those episodes and his voice immediately popped into my head when I read that.
I think she is really pretty. She will look better as she ages but she still looks great now
I wonder how he feels about her inability to come up with more than a single facial expression?
And those dead, dead eyes?
I’m sorry, but she has what my grandma would refer to as “bad legs”.
Alexander Wang hired accused serial child rapist R. Kelly for his spring/summer 2017 collection so that would be a “no” to Wang being an “intersectional dude”.
Serial? Once is bad enough.
So is he really just saying the “body of our generation” is fake and plastic? Bella Same face Hadid has career because of the extensive plastic surgery she has had and her dad’s money to buy a PR team. Please bring back naturally gorgeous women. They do exist. Bella is under 25 and her face is already stepping into cat woman face territory. She will be a mess by the time she is 25…mark my words.
Unfortunately when you make a sweeping statement like ”the body of a generation” then you just encourage critique and (rightful) backlash because it’s a dumb statement. He didn’t do her any favors & should have just said he loves her look and enjoys collabs with her. As soon as we’re into discussions on the ”ideal” bodies, whether it be Bella types or Kim types, we’ve kind of lost our way in terms of accepting our own bodies in their diversity & individuality.
Slim-hipped? Her hips are huge, her body is pear-shaped. Cara Delevingne has small hips, for example (not that it would be a bad thing). But Bella is big in the lower part of her body.
Bella Hadid is the new Carla Bruni, same face same body but Carla was a breakthrough in 90’s catwalks according to the Supermodels Era (Cindy, Naomi, Stephanie, Helena, Claudia, etc). Bella is Carla for millennials.
Carla was breathtaking in her haclyon days compared to the Hadids.
At least she stands up straight. But yeah, we don’t need boy bodies on women to be the body of our generation.
I don’t get how anyone thinks she has a “boy” body. I have never seen a boy who looked anything remotely like her. She looks like a gorgeous woman to me, and I think the title “the body” is fitting, because hers is perfect.
Kendall and Gigi have better bodies imo…. but Bella has a beautiful (if tweaked) face.
Why is it important that she’s white though?
She’s a model, her looks are above average and she represents no race in fact. Most white women do not look like her nor do they have her body. There are black and Asian models world-wide who have her body and fit into this statement. Do they represent how most black and Asian women look around the world? I doubt it.
So why turn it into a racial thing?
something strange has happened. perhaps an invasion.
Yes, the comments definitely have a bit ‘agenda’ to them.
I may be in the minority but Bella’s body is pretty bangin’. I think she has a lovely figure and she’s hardly slim-hipped or boyish. I don’t think every body these days needs to look like an hourglass ala Kim K, for it to look like an “acceptable” woman’s body. While Bella isn’t slim-hipped, there is nothing wrong with slim-hipped, athletic bulids, so let’s please be more accepting of different body types. 😉
The body of our generation is the body we’re born with. I eat healthy and exercise, and that leaves me at 5’2″ and roughly 120 pounds. A good friend of mine is a vegan, very into her health and exercise, and she weighs quite a bit more than I do and she’s also a LOT taller and curvier. Women aren’t one-size-fits-all and the sooner designers realize that, the happier we’ll all be.
What does race have to do w this story? It’s so very divisive and needless, to inset racism where it really doesn’t belong, and especially when SO MANY true stories of ACTUAL racism unfortunately abound.
Her figure is amazing! I get the point being made that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, but I can’t find any fault with Bella. A few people here seem to be picking her apart. I personally think she’s stunning. Beauty comes in many shapes and hers is certainly an outstanding one!